Around Campus

Project pieces together osprey mosaic

By Cathy Cole

UNF Art and Design Associate Professor Nofa Dixon and her small Special Topic, Mosaic Project class spent the spring semester assembling a new mosaic installed on campus this summer.

“The initial concept for this project was that we would embellish the concrete around campus a little bit,” Dixon said. “I had originally created mosaics on four columns that were 24 feet high around Alumni Square. I was asked to do more around campus by President (John) Delaney. But after much research, we thought it would be more challenging and more creative to create three wall murals instead.”

And that is exactly what Dixon — who has been teaching here since 1994 — and her students are in the process of doing. This first wall, depicting an osprey nest with three eggs, was designed and created during the winter semester at Dixon’s home studio. There was no studio space on campus large enough or that contained enough storage to house the several hundred tile project between sessions. Dixon and the seven students met each Tuesday and Thursday morning for several hours to paint, glaze, fire and cut the individual tiles needed to construct the large mosaic designed especially for the wall on Building 8.

The other two mosaics will feature an adult osprey constructing the nest and one in which the osprey chicks are preparing to fly. Both will be designed for the spaces they will inhabit.

Presidential History Professor David Courtwright said he encouraged Dixon to pursue the wall project. “I knew Nofa to be a gifted artist, I admired her work and I serve with her on the Campus Art Committee,” he said. “I encouraged her to explore the possiblility of using some of the blank concrete spaces on campus as settings for her art. Nofa’s first response was to transform the four columns in the courtyard, using a seasonal theme. I (and everyone else I know) thought the courtyard columns were a tremendous success. I encouraged Nofa to do more work. She came up with the ‘nest’ idea as her second project and it looks splendid.”

The project had to be approved by the Campus Art Committee and the President’s Office. Dixon has been working with Campus Planner Zak Ovaidia to find the perfect locations for the three murals.

“We have been all over campus to look for a place with enough wall space,” Dixon said. “The second mural will be install on Building 2, upstairs. We are still considering options for the final space.”

The students who worked on the project — Silvia de Araujo, Jonathan Byxbe, Christina Hampton, Christopher Hicks, Allison Phelps, Nicole Silver, Thomas Stillwell and Amber Williams — were handpicked by Dixon for their work ethic and dedication to the art itself. Not all are art majors, either. They come from across the disciplines including teaching, engineering and psychology.

The diverse group worked through the semester on sections of the mural, often laying them out on her driveway and photographing them through an upstairs window to see the effect being created.

Each tile had to be numbered and cataloged and checked in and out of a complex system so that it would fit correctly in the final product.

“We painted and fired each piece up to 10 times each and we had to know how it fit into the puzzle when it came out of the kiln,” Dixon said.

Dixon said the project means a great deal to her because it brings arts to the campus community.

“I often think that art programs are sometimes isolated from others parts of the University system,” she said. “I used to teach in the school system a long time ago and I have memories of other teachers walking past my classroom, straining their necks to see what was going on inside my room and doing anything they could to avoid actually entering the room itself. So I really like to have art where the people are and to take art to them rather than to expect them to come into our spaces.”

She also said she gets caught up in the students’ passion for the project itself. “Even though this mosaic class does not fit the definition of a transformational learning opportunity (TLO), each of these classes do become transformational for the students,” she said. “The students start to come out of their shells. They become a part of the family and they bond. They take ownership of the project and when they come back to campus in 10 years, part of them is still there.”

Around Campus

UNF Model UN team takes first place at national competition

By Cathy Cole

The University of North Florida Model United Nations team took first place among more than 200 teams from universities all around the world at the Model United Nations Conference that took place recently in New York City.

UNF’s 12-person team represented the country of Honduras and was one of only 17 teams to receive the Outstanding Delegation award, which is the first-place honor. This was the team’s second time ever participating in the national conference, and the UNF team, consisting of 30 total members, has only been in existence for two years.

“I am so proud of our team of students and of their coach/adviser Laura Ache. The students receive no academic credit for all of their hard work, as many students from other universities receive, yet they earned the highest designation — Outstanding Delegation — given to fewer than the top 10 percent of teams,” said Dr. Mary Borg, director of the UNF Honors Program.

“It is a huge deal that they took first place,” said Ache. “I think that if you look at the model UN teams that compete from the really large schools — schools that are in the Ivy League — that have been doing this for a really long time and have dedicated classes and faculty for Model UN and this is only our second year. And the students here do it all themselves. I am just here to make sure that administratively the students have what they need. Other than that, they do it all themselves. I just couldn’t be more proud of them.”

Some of the other universities the UNF Model UN team competed against include Brigham Young University, Stanford University, Syracuse University, College of Europe, Erasmus University Rotterdam, California State University, American University in Cairo and Florida Atlantic University, to name a few.

Ache said one of the reasons the UNF team did so well was because the students come from a variety of disciplines and backgrounds. The UNF students are able to use their academic diversity to their advantage because they are able to discuss policy as it impacts real lives, and not just debate policy for policy’s sake.

“It really helps when you have a degree from the health professions and are sitting on a committee to debate public health,” Ache said. “You are then talking about public health from a basis of knowledge, not theory.”

The National Model United Nations has established a number of criteria for evaluating delegation performance across all assigned committees. Each element — remaining in character, participating in committee and proper use of the rules of procedure — is equally important to the overall awards determination process. For delegations awards NMUN staff in each committee selects outstanding participants for each session.

The National Model United Nations competition is designed to allow students from various universities throughout the national and international community to represent countries that are current members in the acting United Nations. Each participating school is assigned a country and argues for resolutions based on their country’s point of view. Students write position papers, stating their country’s position on the issues chosen by the head of the conference and send them before the competition begins.

Once at the competition, students are assigned in groups of two to committees such as Security Council, Council on Women’s Issues, etc. They work with other countries and create resolutions that are voted on by the committee at large. Delegations (the team) are to stay in character the entire time, so they must work with countries and toward resolutions that are only what their assigned country would work toward, so teams must be prepare ahead of time. On the last day, student teams enter their resolutions into the pool to be voted on by all participating schools (countries) and lobby to get their resolutions passed.

“They have to write papers and do a significant amount of research,” Ache said. “They have to be ready for just about anything and they are. The teams are assigned a country and then have to represent the topics as that country. They have to be incredibly well-versed going into the competition.”

Around Campus

Jazz professor hits high note on Billboard Chart

Tune your radio in to a jazz music station and you just might hear UNF Jazz Piano Assistant Professor Lynne Arriale playing.

Long-acclaimed as being one of the top jazz pianists of her generation, Arriale went in a different direction with her latest effort, Convergence. For many years, she worked exclusively in a trio format but has recently begun exploring the quartet format. The exploration has led to great success and a No. 1 hit on the Jazz Radio Chart and No. 17 on the Billboard Chart.

Her current offering brings together the talents of bassist Omer Avital, drummer Anthony Pincottie and trumpeter Randy Brecker.

Arriale has been sharing her unique style all over the world since winning the 1993 Great American Piano Competition. A “100 Golden Fingers Tour” of Japan soon followed with jazz giants Hank Jones, Tommy Flanagan, Kenny Barron, Cedar Walton, Ray Bryant, Junior Mance, Harold Mabern, Roger Kellaway and Monty Alexander. She also collaborated with jazz icons Benny Golson, Rufus Reid and, more recently, George Mraz.

She’s performed at The Spoleto Festival, The Gilmore Piano Festival, JALC’s Dizzy’s Club Coca-Cola, Kansas City’s Folly Theater, several Women in Jazz Festivals at The Kennedy Center and many international jazz festivals.

In addition to her role on the Jazz Studies faculty at UNF, she is also Director of Small Ensembles and teaches privately and conducts master classes, clinics and workshops internationally.

Around Campus

Corporate donors help sponsor campus competitions

By Dan Dundon

While corporate donors and business groups are important in providing scholarships and fellowships at UNF, these organizations also play a vital role each year in sponsoring various competitions on campus.

It’s especially appropriate to recognize the roles these groups play at UNF because The Power of Transformation campaign is built on the commitment to offer transformational learning opportunities to students.

Dozens of such partnerships exist at UNF but two of these competitions in particular offer a glimpse into the benefits students obtain while participating in activities made possible by corporate and professional organizations.

The IANA Logistics & Supply Chain Management Case Competition was made possible by a three-year $25,000 grant from the Intermodal Association of North America, a professional organization of logistics companies. But the contributions did not stop there. During this year’s competition, the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals Jacksonville Roundtable sponsored the banquet while the Jacksonville Port Authority sponsored a tour of JAXPORT.

Similarly, the Big Concrete Beam Design Competition is sponsored by the Prestressed/Precast Concrete Institute with Gate Precast Company in Jacksonville providing support for the UNF student team.

Kyle Groothuis, a senior from Chattanooga, Tenn., was the team captain in the third annual IANA Logistics & Supply Chain Management Case Competition sponsored by the Coggin College of Business in April. “It was an unbelievable experience to take what we’ve learned in the classroom and apply it to a real-world problem,” said Groothuis, a two-year veteran of the competition.

Thirty-two students and 18 faculty members from eight universities analyzed a business case study that addressed supply chain issues facing Zappos.com, a leading online retailer of shoes and apparel. Teams of four students each had an opportunity to make a presentation and were then questioned by judges from some of the top logistics companies in America.

“We had judges who were basically in the executive level of their companies and we had to sell our ideas to them,” Groothuis said. “It was a great opportunity not only to learn presentation skills and build self-confidence, but also to network with other students who may someday be our colleagues in logistics businesses elsewhere.”

In addition to the competition, an executive coach, who provided students with pointers body language and presentation techniques, also observed the students who participated. Groothuis said that feedback from the coach was particularly beneficial. “This was so helpful if you have a nervous habit, for example, that may detract from your message,” he said.

Matthew Graeff has been involved in the Big Concrete Beam Competition for two years. “The competition gives us an opportunity to design a beam to real-life specifications that you would have on the job,” he said. “The team-building experience is a strong component of the competition. We do a lot of exercises that bring us together. By the time we actually get to the contest, we have become a very strong team.”

Gate Precast fabricated the team’s 4,000-pound beam and then shipped it to UNF’s concrete testing lab in the Science and Engineering Building. It is there that each beam is examined to determine which most closely matches the specification and then is subjected to a series of stress tests to determine a winner. This year’s UNF team came in second in Florida.

Dr. Adel El-Safty, a professor in the College of Computing, Engineering and Construction and the faculty adviser for the Big Beam Competition, estimated the cost of the donated materials provided by Gate is in excess of $7,000. But the corporate partnership also involves tours of the Jacksonville plant so students can watch the beam fabrication.

“Gate Precast has been a wonderful partner for UNF not only in the big beam competition but especially in their role in the Prestressed/Precast Concrete Institute (PCI),” he said.

A national grant from the PCI Foundation of $125,000 over five years to establish a concrete design studio at UNF is another indication of how a public-private partnership can benefit students, he explained. “The studio gives our students hands-on experience that would not be realized without the support of sponsors.”

But El-Safty said one of the biggest benefits for students in these competitions is the incentive they provide. “Our students put a great deal of effort in studying and working in the lab preparing for the competition. They are in the lab every night for three or four months. We have never achieved that kind of commitment through teaching alone. We are thankful for these types of partnerships to motivate our students.”

The benefits of the corporate sponsorships go beyond the winning or losing for students.

Lynn Brown, associate director of the Transportation & Logistics Flagship program in the Coggin College of Business, has planned the competition since its inception. In 2008, the competition started with three universities and now had extended to eight universities.

“It has raised the visibility of the UNF Logistics Program across the country and given us a very high profile among some of the most preeminent universities in this field,” she said. “This in turn makes a UNF degree more valuable since logistics companies are now familiar with the program.”

As for the donors, the motivation is part philanthropic and part good business.

Tom Newton, vice president of operations for Gate Precast-Jacksonville, described a symbiotic relationship with UNF.

“These students will be out in the market place someday and will eventually be making decisions about construction types. We want them to be familiar with pre-stressed products,” he said. “If we can help students with a real-world experience while in college, all the better.”

Those sentiments were echoed by Val Noel, president of Pacer Cartage in Jacksonville and one of the board members of IANA, sponsors of the logistics competition.

“We need fresh, smart minds that have the ability to think outside the box and develop long-term applications and processes to improve the overall transportation landscape,” he said.

He said that it was refreshing to witness the students involved in the competition. “The enthusiasm and the high energy of the students were evident. I know the education they are receiving at UNF will be invaluable as they move into the real world.”

Around Campus

Special UNF employee discount for artcamp@MOCA

By Carl Holman

Grow your child’s creativity with a
memorable summer experience at The Museum of Contemporary Art
Jacksonville, a cultural resource of UNF.

The
museum has opened enrollment to University employees with children
between the ages of 4 and 17 for artcamp@MOCA, a series of week-long,
half- or full-day sessions of creating art. Sessions start June 13, run
from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday, with a break during
Independence Day week, and conclude Aug. 19. To make pick-ups and
drop-offs easier, an extended-day rate is available, giving parents an
extra hour before camp starts and after it ends. And, the best part is
UNF employees qualify for a special 35 percent savings off non-member
enrollment rates and 50 percent off the extended-day rate. The
extended-day rate for UNF employees is $25 a week.

“With fun
classes for different age groups, the ability to enroll week-to-week,
and [utilize] extended-day pick-up and drop-off, artcamp@MOCA offers a
tremendously flexible schedule to accommodate working parents at UNF and
an enriching opportunity for their kids,” said Allison Galloway, MOCA's
membership and public programs manager.

During artcamp@MOCA,
museum educators and certified local art educators provide quality
instruction in a wide variety of subjects and media, including various
art-making activities, exploration of art history, tours of the museum's
collection, literacy and creative movement. Space is limited.

The sessions and special rates for UNF are as follows:

Ages 4-6

Monday through FridayHalf-day program: 9 a.m. to noon$64 a week for UNF employees

Week 1: Dino-rama!Week 2: Under the SeaWeek 3: Be a Super HeroNo Classes July 4–8

Get to Know

Andrés Gallo

Department: Economics and GeographyJob title: Associate Professor of Economics and Co-director of the International Business Program Years at UNF: 7-3/4

What do you do at UNF?

I teach, do research and work in building relationships with foreign universities (and many other things).

What is the best thing you ever won?

I
won a tricycle race two years in a row in my hometown, Nueve de Julio,
when I was 2 years old. I was a strong kid and I was the only one using a
helmet, which improved the aerodynamics. I have the pictures to prove
it!

Tell us something that would surprise people to know about you:

I
love playing soccer. I grew up playing soccer and I think I played
soccer almost every day I could since I was 6 years old until I went to
college, where I did not have much time to play so often. I played in a
semi-pro Club called El Fortín in my hometown, but the best moments
playing soccer were pick-up games with friends. At least for me, there
is always a great joy and happiness to play soccer in an open space and
share time with friends. I love to play until it is dark and you cannot
see your own feet.

Tell us about your family.

I
have been married to Marina for 16 years. We have two boys, Francisco,
12 and José, 9. Then I have my parents, Alberto and Amanda, and my
father-in-law, Juan Carlos. I have a brother, Daniel, 38, who is married
to Amancay and they have three children: Pedro, 13; Adolfina, 6; and Timoteo, 5. I also have a sister, Veronica, who is married to Julio and they have four kids: Florencia, 15; Martina, 7; Francisco, 3; and Josephina, 9 months. My two uncles, Abel and Carlos, are married to Azuncena and Maria Antonia respectively. I also have five cousins — Carla, Alejandra, Ariel, José Luis and Maria Laura — and their many children. I have many more members in my extended family whom I love but am not going to name here. I love my family, especially
when we are all together sharing lunch and talking.

What is the proudest/happiest moment of your life?

Getting married and having our two boys. It’s a three-way tie.

What person had the greatest impact on your life?

My
two grandfathers: Antonio and Hector. Since I was 6, they talked to me
about politics, economics and life in general. I enjoyed spending time
with them talking and learning. Even though they have opposite political
views, they showed a respect and appreciation for each other that I
have never seen again. With their example they taught me the value of
hard work and education in one’s life, and I always have carried their
teachings with me.

What are you most passionate about?

My family

Who is the most famous person you ever met?

Eduardo
Duhalde, before he became president of Argentina. Rafael Correa, the
current president of Ecuador, was my classmate and friend during our
doctoral program at the University of Illinois.

If you won the lottery, what would do with the money?

Travel
with my family, help them financially and set up ways to help people in
need. Maybe I will move to Nueve de Julio and have a house with a
backyard where I can have a vegetable garden and some animals. I will
keep teaching college students.

What is your favorite thing about working at UNF?

Our students

If you were not working at UNF, what would you be doing?

Working at another university

If you could choose any other career, what would it be and why? Being a writer. Like Thomas Jefferson, I cannot live without books.

What is your favorite way to blow an hour?

Drink mate (a kind of tea from Argentina) with my wife and talk.

What was the first concert you ever attended, and what was the most recent concert you attended?

I
do not remember my first concert — although I will not lie if I choose
any given place I used to go with my parents where some local band or
singer was playing. My last concert was José’s concert with the
Jacksonville Children’s Chorus, in early April.

Tell us something about you that even your friends don’t know:

I like dogs, but I’ve never had one.

What do you hope to accomplish that you have not done yet?

I do not have any specific goals. I like to be available for opportunities that are worth pursuing.

What’s the last book you read?

Right
now I am reading “The Good Husband of Zebra Drive,” the eighth book of
the series “The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency,” by Alexander McCall
Smith. It is a great series about everyday life and people in Botswana,
Africa.

Ask UNF

Keeping runners’ knees healthy

From professional athletes to weekend warriors to those training for the annual Gate River Run, the condition known as runner’s knee is a painful and potentially debilitating injury suffered by millions of people. Dr. Michelle Boling, assistant professor in the Department of Clinical and Applied Movement Sciences, discusses this condition.

What is runner’s knee?

Runner’s knee is a common chronic (develops over a period of time) condition in which people complain of pain behind or around their kneecap during physical activity. This condition commonly develops in an individual’s adolescent years, but is also prevalent among physically active adults. Other common names for runner’s knee include patellofemoral pain syndrome or lateral patella tracking syndrome.

How can I prevent runner’s knee?

Runner’s knee is thought to develop due to muscle imbalances (tight and weak muscles) and altered movement patterns in the lower extremity. Stretching the quadriceps (front of thigh), hamstrings (back of thigh) and calf musculature should be performed prior to and after physical activity. Also, when bending at the knees or squatting, individuals should make sure their knees do not move in front of their toes and that their knee stays centered over their foot (knees should not collapse together).

If I already have runner’s knee, are there exercises that I should perform?

The cause of runner’s knee may differ from individual to individual; therefore, treatment is not always the same. However, exercises that are commonly prescribed by clinicians include stretching and strengthening of the hip and thigh musculature. Exercises that are commonly prescribed include straight leg raises into hip abduction (lying on your side with legs straight, raise top leg away from body), wall squats (stand with back against a wall with feet 12 inches away from wall, squat down) and lunges. All stretches and exercises should be performed in a pain-free manner. If you can’t perform a lunge exercise due to pain, try to perform it without bending your knees as much. If you still have pain, then choose an alternate exercise. Also, when performing squats or lunges, make sure your knees stay centered over your feet.

Can foot orthotics be helpful for individuals with runner’s knee?

Foot orthotics (shoe inserts that help support the arches of the foot) may help individuals with runner’s knee if the individual pronates (arch flattens) excessively when walking or running. If an individual doesn’t have altered foot mechanics (increased pronation), foot orthotics will most likely not help to decrease the symptoms of runner’s knee.

“Ask UNF” is a monthly column that runs in The Florida Times-Union, promoting the expertise of UNF faculty and staff.If you have questions about this topic, contact Boling at m.boling@unf.edu.

Faculty and Staff

Brooks College of Health

Department of Public Health: Dr. Erin Largo-Wight published “Healthy Workplaces: The Role of Nature Contact Office Exposures on Employee Stress and Health” with W. Chen, V. Dodd and R. Weiler in Public Health Reports, Vol.126, Supplement 1; “Improving Health through Stress Reduction: An Experiential Activity” with E. Barr and M. Moore in the Journal of Health Education Teaching, Vol. 2, No. 1; and “Cultivating Healthy Places and Communities: Evidenced-based Nature Contact Recommendations” in the International Journal of Environmental Health Research, Vol. 21, No. 1. She also presented “The Feasibility and Practicality of an Environmental Intervention for Stress Reduction at Work: The Environmental Booster Break” with E. Cuvelier, W.W. Chen and M.M. Howard at American Academy of Health Behavior in March at Hilton Head, S.C.

College of Arts and Sciences

Chemistry: Dr. Mike Lufaso has been selected to be recognized as one of two faculty at UNF as Oscar Munoz Presidential Professors, made possible by a generous gift from Oscar Munoz and family. Munoz is a member of the UNF Board of Trustees and CFO of the CSX Corporation. Lufaso will carry the designation of Munoz Presidential Professor for two years. Funding from the Munoz gift ($10,000 per year for each of the next two years) will allow him to further his research at UNF.

English: Dr. Michael Wiley has published "A Bad Night’s Sleep," the third mystery in his award-winning Joe Kozmarski series. In a starred review of the novel, Publishers Weekly praises the “well-developed flawed hero,” “relentless pacing,” and “hard-edged prose.”

History: Dr. Carolyn Williams received an award from the Jacksonville Historic Preservation Commission for her research, writing, teaching and promotion of local and African-American history.

Languages, Literatures and Cultures: Dr. Shira Schwam-Baird’s book “Valentin et Orson,” an edition and translation of a 15th-century French epic, has been published by the Arizona Center for Medieval and Renaissance Studies at Arizona State University.

Psychology: Dr. C. Dominik Güss and student Marissa Lovvorn were among the 74 selected to present their research on risky business decision making to senators and state representatives on Capitol Hill in April. Of the 700 applicants nationwide, they were the only selected from Florida. Güss also published “Complex Problem Solving across Cultures” which was translated into Russian for Reconstruction of Subjective Reality. Together with Dietrich Dörner, he published “A Psychological Analysis of Adolf Hitler’s Decision Making as Commander in Chief: Summa Confidentia et Nimius Metus” in Review of General Psychology, Vol. 15.

Dr. Michael Toglia gave an invited paper “Suggestive Influences on Memory and Lineup Identification” at the Southeastern Psychological Association meeting. He also,in collaboration with several of his graduate and undergraduate students, gave a poster presentation titled “Survivability and Remembering: What is Adaptive about Adaptive Memory?” at the Florida Statewide Student Research Symposium.

College of Computing, Engineering and Construction

Department of Construction Management: Dr. Maged Malek published his paper, “Model Development of Constructability,” in Management Science and Engineering, Vol.5, No.2. At the International Association for Management of Technology Conference, Malek presented his paper, “Concrete Distress Investigation” and chaired a session on Management of Technology in Research and Education.

School of Engineering: Dr. Daniel Cox received a faculty research visit grant from Deutscher Akademischer Austausch Dienst (DAAD), the German Academic Exchange Service, to collaborate at the Cologne University of Applied Sciences in Cologne, Germany.

Dr. Chris Brown andB. Poiencot published their paper, “An Optimal Centralized Carbon Dioxide Repository for Florida, USA”, in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, Vol. 8, No. 4.

Dr. Thobias Sando received a research grant of $45,232 from the Florida Department of Transportation to develop crash modification factors (CMFs) for urban four-lane roadways with raised medians.

Dr. Alexandra Schönning, John Kirkpatrick, Jonathan Neal, Lory Anne E. Reyes and Lyle C. Young presented and published their paper “Fabrication and Initial Testing of Fatigue Bone Cement Specimens,” at the 17th International Conference on Industry, Engineering and Management Systems, March 28-30, 2011. Schonning also chaired the session on Industry and Academia Collaboration at the conference.

School of Computing: Dr. Ching-Hua Chuan presented her paper, “Harmonic Style-Based Song Retrieval Using N-Gram,” at the International Conference on Multimedia Retrieval in mid-April.

Dean’s Office: The UNF student chapter of the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers invited Dr. Jerry Merckel to speak on “Keys to Career Success.” Merckel also spoke on “Adventures Before, During and After IBM” at the IBM South Florida Alumni Association Conference in late April.

College of Education and Human Service

Department of Childhood Education: Drs. Gigi Morales David and Elizabeth Fullerton presented “Social Skills: Promoting Preschool Friendships” to 140 preschool teachers at the 8th Annual Addressing Challenging Behavior: National Training Institute on Effective Practices/Supporting Young Children’s Social and Emotional Development. An early childhood reporter who attended the session wrote an article about the contents of the presentation for the publication Education Daily. Morales David provided in-service training on arts-integration and visual literacy for the faculty attending Ortega Museum Magnet. Morales David was also the featured author at a Young Writer’s Conference for children attending Summers Elementary School in Lake City.

Dr. Katie Monnin will participate in three panel presentations at the American Library Association conference in New Orleans in late June. The panel presentations are titled: “Comics as Children’s Literature,” “Graphic Novels for Reluctant Readers” and “Good Graphic Novels for Third through Fifth Grade Students.”

Department of Exceptional Student and Deaf Education: Dr. Sherry Shaw has been selected to be recognized as one of two faculty at UNF as Oscar Munoz Presidential Professors. This distinction is made possible by a generous gift from Oscar Munoz and family. Munoz is a member of the UNF Board of Trustees and CFO of the CSX Corporation. Shaw will carry the designation of Munoz Presidential Professor for two years. Funding from the Munoz gift ($10,000 per year for each of the next two years) will allow Shaw to further her line of research on the neuropsychological and motivational traits of spoken and signed language interpreting students. She has previously conducted this research in five European Union countries as the first step of a larger research agenda on student aptitude for learning the interpreting process through academic interpreter education programs.

Office of the Dean: Drs. Marsha Lupi and Jacqueline Batey presented “Cross Cultural Learning Opportunities for Special Education and General Education Students through International Field Experiences” at the CEC 2011 Convention and Expo in National Harbor, Md.

Other College News: Dr. Lynne Raiser presented “We Can’t Wait for Superman” to the Jacksonville Women’s Network (JWN) in April with three Gladys Prior Award winners. The panel members responded to the question: How can you find teaching in a public school a rewarding career with the constant assaults on public schools and teachers? The responses focused on the special relationships between teachers and their students that make the career worthwhile.

Jayne De La Rosa, Child Development Teacher, Child Research and Development Center

James Laney, Groundskeeper, Physical Facilities

Claire Miller, Assistant Director, Annual Giving

Joseph Parisi, Accounting Associate, Student Government

Charmaine Peralta, Administrative Secretary, Political Science and Public Administration

Lynette Qadeer, Custodial Worker, Physical Facilities

Joseph Rodil, Accounting Associate, Student Government

Danyell Rowland, Office Assistant, The Graduate School

Heather Varian, Director, Annual Giving

Well done

The following employees were promoted from from mid-March to mid-April:

Gregory Catron, Associate Director, Employee Labor Relations

Karene Fabian, Coordinator of Accounting, Controller’s Office

Miguel Gabertan, Assistant Controller, Controller’s Office

Robin McCracken, Custodial Supervisor, Physical Facilities

Michael McGuire, Coordinator, Student Government

Willie McLaurin, Senior Custodial Worker, Physical Facilities

Rosana Moreira, Coordinator, Student Affairs

Wilson Navarro, Assistant Controller, Controller’s Office

Stephanie Price, Senior Accountant, Controller’s Office

Tiffany Winemiller, Associate Director, Major Gifts

Congratulations

Dr. Joseph Campbell, a professor in the School of Engineering, recently announced his retirement. During his 12-year tenure, Campbell reconstituted the electrical engineering program, led the effort to establish the civil engineering and mechanical engineering academic programs and was successful in securing accreditation for all of the programs. He was also instrumental in defining the layout and content of the new science building and establishing the foundation for the new master’s programs in civil, electrical and mechanical engineering.

The Goods

Avocados — Don’t just think guacamole

The avocado is a nutritious subtropical/tropical fruit which can be used in a variety of dishes. Dr. Judy Perkin, a nutrition professor, discusses myths and facts about this often misunderstood and underutilized fruit.

Myth: The avocado is a vegetable.

Fact: Botanical authorities tell us that the avocado is classified as a fruit and an alternate name for the avocado is alligator pear. Many people prepare and eat avocado thinking it is a vegetable. At least one food encyclopedia calls the avocado a fruit-vegetable.

Myth: Avocados are high in fat and should be avoided as part of a healthy diet.

Fact: Avocados do contain a significant amount of fat but food analyses indicates that most of the fat in the avocado is of the monounsaturated type, which may be beneficial for health. The Produce for a Better Health Foundation also points out that avocados contain very little saturated fat and are a good source of many important nutrients for health, such as potassium, folate and dietary fiber.

Myth: Florida avocados come in only two varieties.

Fact: According to a University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences website, there are 56 avocado varieties grown in Florida, with the first avocado tree being planted in the state in 1833. Agricultural economists tell us that California, Florida and Hawaii are the major producers of U.S. grown avocados. The United States Department of Agriculture cites Mexico and Chile as foreign countries that are important in terms of worldwide production of avocados.

Myth: Avocado oil is used only for beauty products.

Fact: Avocado oil is also sold as a food product and is available for use as a dipping or cooking oil. Sometimes it is sold with added spices. Read the label for the correct usage directions and for suggestions on how to incorporate avocado oil into your diet.

Myth: Avocados are not used in making desserts.

Fact: Although we typically think of the avocado as an ingredient for appetizers, salads or main dishes, there are recipes that feature the avocado as a dessert ingredient. A quick search of the Internet will yield many recipes for avocado ice cream, avocado pie, avocado pudding and other tasty avocado desserts.

Avocado Sauce with Grilled Shrimp

Preparation time: 35 minutes

Serves: 10

5 medium avocados, peeled and seeded

½ cup cilantro, chopped

1-2 limes, juiced

1/3 teaspoon salt or to taste*

¼ teaspoon black pepper or to taste*

1 tablespoon olive oil

30 shrimp, large (size 21 x 25)

1 cup jicama, sticks

1 cup cucumber, chopped

Pinch cayenne pepper, for garnish

Cilantro, leaves for garnish

¼ teaspoon salt or to taste*

¼ teaspoon black pepper or to taste*

Puree avocados, chopped cilantro and the juice of 1 lime in a blender until smooth. Season with 1/3 teaspoon salt (or to taste). In a bowl, toss shrimp with the olive oil, ¼ teaspoon salt and pepper (or to taste), juice of ½ lime and grill to perfection. For presentation, serve the avocado sauce with three grilled shrimp and garnish with crispy sticks and cubes of jicama and cucumbers, sprinkled with the cayenne pepper and cilantro leaves. Serve as an appetizer or small lunch plate.

This recipe was developed by The Culinary Institute of America as an industry service for Produce for Better Health Foundation (PBH). Source: Fruits & Veggies — More Matters website, www.FruitsAndVeggiesMoreMatter.org. Used with permission of the Produce for A Better Health Foundation.

“The Goods” is a monthly column that runs in The Florida Times-Union’s Taste section about food myths and facts by faculty members in UNF’s Department of Nutrition and Dietetics. Have a question about avocados? Contact Perkin at jperkin@unf.edu.